William h



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Witnesses:

Inventor:

.WILLIAM n'. TOWERS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

l LenmPmmNo.s4,149,;1m:ed1vmmtgr17, 186e.

lIISIUPR'VIEIM'ENJI' INHOOP-SKIRTS. f

- MrQ- The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patencand making parcofthe lame.

Toall whom it 'ma/y concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. TOWERS, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk, in the State of Massa? chusetts', have invented a new andimproved Hoop- Skirt; and I do hereby declare that the following' is a Afull and exact description thereof, reference being had .to theaccompanying drawing, and to the'letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consistsin the substitution of steel wires orribbons for the cords or tapesby which the hoops are ordinarilysuspended, thereby allowing the number of hoops, and, consequently, theweight of the entire skirt, to be greatly lessened, to

, the considerable reduction ofthe oost of production,

1,and the increased comfort of the wearer;

My invention consists of a hoop-skirt, in which the horizontal wires orhoops are grouped at the top and bottom thereof, and connected orsuspended by vertical wires or hoops, reducing the weight of thearticle,

-and preventing its being disarranged by the wind.

v These two portions, as vthus formed, are connected together byverticalwires, which are fastened to the lower bustle-hoops 'and upperounce-hoop by any well-known means. 4

lThe body, or that portion of the skirt occupied by the verticalsuspending wires, is not provided with horizontal wires: i It may beremarked that in place of the tape-connection ofthe bustle anddonnee-hoops, I may use Wire.

The advantages of this construction of skirt are obvious. rIt forms avery light skirt, and one which readily permits a change in the form ofbustle and ounce to suit the whims of fashion. Moreover, the verticalwires keep the skirt down in proper positiorn/and prevent itsdisamangement by the wind, 3 Having thus described my invention, What Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As a new article of manufacture, a hoop-skirt, oonsisting of thebustle-hoops a a, donnee-hoops b b, and

suspending-wires D D, arranged substantially as hel'e in described.'WM'.- H. TOWERS.

Witnesses:

A. P'. FAmBANIIs, E. E. DAVIS.

